New ownership, high expectations for Cubs

MESA, Ariz. - - The Chicago Cubs finally have an ownership group, but it's unknown how much longer the rest of the gang will be around.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella is in the final year of his contract, and general manager Jim Hendry still has three years left, but there is no guarantee either will be left standing if the Ricketts family, the Cubs' new owners, doesn't like what it sees.

"I've got enough confidence in my ability to do a job,'' Piniella said Wednesday. "I'm going to do the best job I can humanely do to assure that this team wins again this year and gives itself a chance in the postseason. Outside of that, whatever happens to my situation will be rectified when the season is over.''

Piniella, who led the Cubs to two NL Central titles but missed the playoffs last year, says his players are eager to return to the postseason.

"The message is, 'Let's get back on top,' " Piniella said. "They're hungry. We didn't get to where we wanted to go. Just looking at these players, they're ready to go.''

If the Cubs indeed win, Piniella and Hendry say, everything will take care of itself.

"I don't worry about it at all,'' Hendry said of his job security. "I put a lot of pressure on myself every year. And I'm going to be the same guy. I have to do a good job as general manager. We all have the same goals. We have to get back on track.

"There's no reason to believe this quality of ownership group won't get better and better. I think they're going to own this franchise for decades. They're going to have a chance to be like the O'Malleys. They want to do everything in a first-class manner. They really care about having a first-class organization from top to bottom. Their intentions are nothing but admirable.''

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